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Your Blue Springs Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In Missouri an injury to the person that no other section covers must be filed within five years (R.S.Mo. § 516.120). The trial court for Jackson County sits in Kansas City, at 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without legal confusion on top of it. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you in Blue Springs, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
We match people with attorneys; we do not advise on cases. Treat what follows as a plain language guide to Missouri law drawn from the statutes. When you want to talk to an attorney, the form at the top of this page is the way to start.
Questions Worth Asking In Blue Springs
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- The deadline. Ask for the specific last day to file, and which Missouri limit applies to your kind of claim. Five years is the general period for an injury to the person, and a wrongful death action has three years (RSMo § 516.120, RSMo § 537.100).
- Who owes what. Ask how percentages of fault would apply to each person who may share the blame. In a Missouri tort action, a defendant found 51 percent or more at fault is jointly and severally liable, and a defendant found less at fault answers only for that percentage (RSMo § 537.067).
- Punitive damages. Ask whether the facts could support them. A Missouri award may not exceed the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment awarded to the plaintiff against the defendant (RSMo § 510.265).
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Kinds of Injury Claims
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
Wrongful death
When a death is caused by someone else’s wrongful act or neglect, the claim works differently from an injury claim. Missouri’s wrongful death statute lets the spouse, children or parents of the person who died sue when the death results from an act or circumstance that would have entitled that person to recover had death not ensued, and the time to sue is three years (RSMo § 537.080, RSMo § 537.100). You do not have to sort this out alone or quickly; an attorney can explain who is allowed to act and what the dates are.
Injured in Blue Springs? Get matched with an attorney now.
When Fault Is Shared
Missouri’s tort statute turns on percentages. When a jury finds fault, a defendant who bears 51 percent or more is jointly and severally liable for the amount of the judgment. A defendant found less than 51 percent at fault is responsible only for the percentage the jury assigns (RSMo § 537.067).
There are exceptions. A party is also responsible for the fault of another defendant who was acting as that party’s employee (RSMo § 537.067). Ask an attorney how those percentages could play out against each person who may share the blame.
Extra Damages And Government Claims
Ask early whether a special rule applies, because it depends on who is responsible. For a private defendant, punitive damages are limited to the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment (RSMo § 510.265).
For a public body, immunity is waived only for the operation of motor vehicles and for dangerous conditions of public property (RSMo § 537.600), and the amount that can be awarded is limited by statute (RSMo § 537.610).
Filing Deadlines For Injury Claims
The standard deadline depends on the kind of claim: five years for an injury to the person that no other section covers (RSMo § 516.120), three years for wrongful death (RSMo § 537.100), and two years for assault, battery or false imprisonment (RSMo § 516.140).
When a defendant is absent from the state so that personal service cannot be had, that time does not count toward the wrongful death period (RSMo § 537.100). Because the limits differ by claim, ask early which one fits your facts.
What Auto Policies Must Cover
The other driver’s policy may be smaller than your bills. Under RSMo § 303.190, the limits are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property of others.
When your losses are larger, look at your own coverage. A policy delivered in Missouri must provide uninsured motorist coverage, and an insured vehicle counts as uninsured when its insurer cannot pay because of insolvency (RSMo § 379.203).
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Blue Springs Claim
Jackson County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Blue Springs. Jackson County’s 16th circuit court is listed in Kansas City, at 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106. In Jackson County, the state list of trauma centers shows Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City as a Level I trauma center. In Jackson County, the state list of trauma centers shows Research Medical Center in Kansas City as a Level I trauma center. The state list of trauma centers names Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City in Kansas City, in Jackson County as well, as a Level I trauma center.
Ask every provider for your full records and an itemized bill, and keep a running list of appointments. A transfer between hospitals leaves two sets of records, so request both.
How To Begin Your Blue Springs Claim
Start with the form at the top. It asks a few questions about the injury. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in Missouri. Using it is free, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.
Until someone calls, make a simple record: what happened, the date and time, names of anyone who saw it, the treatment you have had, and the days you missed from work. Keep every bill and letter in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Missouri’s minimum auto insurance limits?
At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death, and $25,000 for property of others (RSMo § 303.190).
What should I save for my claim?
Save treatment records and bills, photographs, the report number if there is one, pay stubs that show lost work, estimates for repairs, and every letter or email from an insurance company.
Can I talk to the other side’s insurance company?
You can, but you do not have to give a recorded statement right away. It is fair to say you are getting advice first.
Are there special rules for claims against the government?
There are. Immunity is waived in two situations, motor vehicles and dangerous property conditions (RSMo § 537.600), and no award may include punitive damages against a public entity (RSMo § 537.610).
Where do injury lawsuits from the Blue Springs area go?
The court is chosen by the type and size of the case and where the people involved live or the injury happened. Ask your attorney to confirm it; the court listing described above names the local court locations.
What is the deadline to sue for an injury in Blue Springs?
Five years for an injury to a person that no other section covers (RSMo § 516.120), and three years for a wrongful death action (RSMo § 537.100).
Does Missouri count my share of the blame?
For a product liability claim, yes: fault chargeable to the plaintiff diminishes the damages proportionately and does not bar recovery (RSMo § 537.765). In other tort cases the jury’s percentages decide what each defendant owes (RSMo § 537.067).
What limits apply to punitive damages in Missouri?
The greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment awarded to the plaintiff against the defendant (RSMo § 510.265). The limit does not apply when the State is the plaintiff.
Help Elsewhere in Missouri
The same matching service covers more of Missouri. Pick the community closest to where it happened.
